Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	call_v	good_a	work_n	3,639	5	6.0437	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58923	A seasonable discourse against comprehension. Occasioned by a late pamphlet intituled The peaceable design, being a modest account of the non-conformists meetings, with some of their reasons for non-conformity: and the way of accomodation in the matter of religion. Humbly proposed to publick consideration by some ministers of London, against the sitting of Parliament, in the year, 1675.	Hickes, George, 1642-1715. Letter sent from beyond the seas to one of the chief ministers of the Non-conforming party. aut	1676 (1676)	Wing S2227; ESTC R214757	10,075	36

first Declaration he hath given his unfeigned Assent and Consent to the use of all and every thing in the said Book contained and prescribed I say unfeigned Hypocrisie being hateful both to God and Man and destructive to humane Society As to the other Declaration in brief thus It being notoriously known with what design the Covenant was first Imposed even the ruine of that Covernment which the Kings of England in their Goronation-Oath do swear to Maintain And the sad Effects being as Obvious to which that League was in a great measure Instrumental Authority could do no less without being wanting to its own Preservation than to require an assurance from all Persons to be admitted into the Ministry that there lies no Obligation from this Oath to endeavour any Alteration of Government either in Church or State In which words whoever refuseth to declare doth in effect assure us That though at present restrained yet he is still obliged when occasion shall offer it self in his Place and Calling to root out Popery Prelacy i. c. Government by Arch Bishops Bishops Deans Chapters c. If it be replied That there is no Alteration of Government intended by these moderate Dissenters whose Comprehension is desir'd but that it is another Clause in the Declaration which justisieth their refusal viz. There lies no Obligation on me or any other Person c. Which say they cannot safely be declar'd because though they do not approve the whole Oath yet there are several indispensable Duties contained in it which can never be renounced To this I Answer The Alcoran Romish Breviary or Missal may by any one that hath subscrib'd them be lawfully renounced and yet doubtless there are in them several Duties of Morality whereto he was obliged before and to which he was further obliged by his own Personal act in subscribing as being a part thereof Yet may he renounce In hac forma And so it is with the Covenant which may in like manner be renounc'd notwithstanding those good things that are contained in it The reason is Because Subscription was to the Totum complexum i. c. to the whole Frame of the Covenant as such and therefore the Abrenunciation of it must be to the whole as such The Obligation whereof being renounc'd must reach to every Branch and Clause therein so as no Man standeth obliged to the performance of any one Branch thereof though otherwise not only lawful but even necessary upon some other account as it is a Branch of the Covenant As to that trifling Scruple That though they themselves are not obliged by it yet it is too much considence to declare There lies no Obligation on any other This I say scarce deserves Confutation For since Nemo t●netur ad impossibile and Juramentum non est vinculum iniquitatis if it be in it self an unlawsul Oath as hath upon occasion been sufficiently prov'd it can neither oblige them nor any other whatsoever to any thing but Repentance But the most plausible Pretence in behalf of these Dissenters and which it seems hath influene'd some loyal Noble Breasts is this The Union of Protestants in his Majesties Kingdom 's is a very bleassed and desirable Work and accordingly it is the Duty of every good Subject in his Place and Calling faithfully to promote it This being the most effectual Method to suppress the common Enemy the Papists who are doubtless more encourag'd by our Divisions than any other Motives or Endeavours of their own Party And therefore were there but some little Relaxation granted whereby the most eminent Presbyterians might be receiv'd into the Church What a consternation would this strike into the Papal Faction What signal Service might the Church of England receive from these famous Champions whose Zeal and Learning are so notorious to the World This is their Plea The weakness of which may thus easily appear The Union of Protestants Reformation of abuses of Religion with such like specious Names being the usual Vizards wherewith Men of insatiable Avarice or Ambition disguise their base unworthy Intentions that the ugliness thereof may not appear to vulgar Eyes It concerns Authority to be very deliberate in their Councels and not be too forward upon every slight pretence to innovate good Laws for the sad consequents of which Change they can never be answerable to Church and State Few are of so weak Capacity but publick evils they easily espie fewer so patient as not to complain when the grievous inconveniences thereof work sensible Smart saith judicious Mr. Hooker Hence it is that the very name of Reformation carrieth with it a great deal of outward Glory and Lustre silling the Hearts of Men with expectation of much Happiness to ensue and in that Hope is evermore entertain'd with general Applause especially of the Vulgar sort And therefore Covetous Ambitious Disconted Persons have always improv'd this Inclination to their own advantage So that seldome hath any Sacrilegious or Seditious attempt appear'd abroad in the World and been countenanced either by the Great ones or the Many which hath not been uther'd in by this piece of Hypocrisie although upon the Post-fact we have sadly experienc'd that the pretence of a thorough Reformation serveth as a Foil to set off the blackest Crimes that ever the Christian World was guilty of This general Consideration first premised and 't is no unseasonable Reslection to the present Proposal I thus Answer That the Union of Protestants is indeed a very blessed and destreable Work as being the most effectual Method to suppress the common Enemy the Papist and accordingly that it is the Duty of every good Subject in his Place and Calling faithfully to promote it Thus far is easily granted But then whether this Comprehension be so suitable a method to promote that blessed Work or wether these Presbyterians would be so considerable a support to the Protestant Cause were the Walls of the Church like those of Troy pull'd down to receive them may best be judg'd by their own Confession For now they begin to speak plain The Mask of Hypocrisie by long wearing is grown so thin and useless that it is fit for nothing but to be thrown by That which so falsly and invidiously hath been objected against the Prelates is too sadly true of these Presbyterians They have a Pope in Their Belly This you 'll say is a very harsh and uncharitable Reslection And I do acknowledg the Charge were I not able thus to prove it In this very Pamphlet call'd the The Peaceable Design p. 71 I sind these words Such a Toleration only is desir'd as is consistent with the Articles of Faith a good Life and the Government of the Nation But what shall we say then to the Papists which is the Objection hit still in their Teeth that plead for Moderation Why we will not baulk the delivery of our Opinion There are two part we profess of that favour or condescention we seek from the higher Powers The